West Ham close to £14m capture of Wilfried Bony

West Ham are on the brink of sealing a £14million deal for Ivory Coast powerhouse Wilfried Bony.The Hammers are set to announce the capture of the Ivory Coast striker from Vitesse Arnhem this week after agreeing the move with the cash-strapped Dutch club.Bony, 24, has been described as the new Didier Drogba because of his physical style and scoring prowess.He has scored 26 goals for Vitesse this season – making him top scorer in the Eredivisie – and is expected to be named Holland’s Player of the Year.

Bony, a £4m capture from Sparta Prague just over two years ago, is set to move to Upton Park in the summer. Bony packs over 13stone of muscle in his 5ft 9ins frame and has an explosive style.He has scored 11 goals in his last seven games for club and country and was targeted by Newcastle in January.He was a member of the Ivory Coast squad who reached the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup in South Africa in February.Bony’s capture is a major coup for the Hammers, who have been given the go-ahead to move the Olympic Stadium at Stratford in 2016.

His arrival means that the club are unlikely to take up a £15m option to sign Andy Carroll.

The Hammers paid Liverpool £2m to take the England striker on loan for the season, but he has scored just three times after being hit by injury.

Andy Carroll joins West Ham

Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll has joined West Ham on a season-long loan, the Merseyside club have confirmed.

Carroll's position at Anfield has been the subject of considerable speculation since new manager Brendan Rodgers took charge earlier in the summer. The 23-year-old had also been linked with a return to former club Newcastle but the Hammers have now acquired his services for the 2012/13 season.
A brief statement from Liverpool read: "Liverpool Football Club can confirm that Andy Carroll has joined West Ham United on a season-long loan. The striker will spend the whole of 2012/13 with Sam Allardyce's team."
Carroll joined the Reds in a club record £35million deadline day deal in January 2011 but has failed to establish himself on Merseyside. Reports that he was poised to move to Upton Park grew during Thursday evening and he was conspicuous by his absence as Liverpool faced Hearts in a Europa League qualifier.
Carroll told West Ham's official website: "It's great to be here at West Ham and all signed up - I just can't wait to get started now. I want to be playing games and obviously hoping to score some goals. I know the manager well and some of the lads, so it is nice for me to come to a place where I know people.
"I'm hoping to add a lot of goals and create a few chances. I know Sam from Newcastle and he was a massive reason for me coming. When I worked with him at Newcastle it was great so it was a no-brainer really."

Andy Carroll Rejects West Ham move

Andy Carroll has turned down the chance to join West Ham from Liverpool despite the two clubs having reached an agreement.Reports emerged on Monday suggesting that the Reds had accepted an approach by the Hammers to take the England striker on a season-long loan in a deal which would have cost them £2m, with the promise of a further £17m to make the transfer become permanent if he did well.However, Carroll is said to be against the idea of a move to Upton Park as he only wants to join a club that is competing in European competition, which the Premier League new boys are unable to offer at this time.The 23-year-old is thought to be holding out for a return to his former club Newcastle if he must leave Anfield, although the Magpies have already seen one bid for his services rejected by the Reds.Hammers boss Sam Allardyce had been hoping Carroll's friendship with his captain Kevin Nolan could tip the balance in the Irons' favour, but even the fact that the three of them share the same agent in Mark Curtis, has ultimately made no different to the forward's mindset.

West Ham Land Andy Carroll

Liverpool have agreed a £2m loan deal with West Ham for Andy Carroll, who looks set to spend this season at Upton Park.The England international spoke to Brendan Rodgers about his future following Euro 2012 and speculation has been rife that he would be on the move from Anfield, after just 56 first-team appearances.Carroll has been a target for his former club Newcastle, but the Magpies have been unable to agree a fee with the Reds and now West Ham look to have sealed a loan switch.The year-long long deal is with a view to a £17million switch to the capital, although Carroll has indicated that he does not want to leave Liverpool on a permanent basis.The 23-year-old, who moved to Merseyside in a £35million deal in January 2011, will team up again with Sam Allardyce, who both worked together during the manager's short tenure at Newcastle.

F.A Cup Chelsea Beat Liverpool

Ramires and Didier Drogba scored as Chelsea won the FA Cup at Wembley, where Liverpool were controversially denied a late equaliser.The irrepressible Ramires put his team in front before Drogba scored his eighth goal in nine appearances on the hallowed turf – justifying boss Roberto Di Matteo’s decision to select him rather than former Reds frontman Fernando Torres.But Liverpool rallied and substitute Andy Carroll reduced the deficit, setting up an anxious final 25 minutes for Di Matteo’s men.And the Merseysiders thought they had completed a remarkable comeback when Carroll’s late header from Luis Suarez’s cross looked like it may have crossed the line before being pushed onto the underside of the bar by keeper Petr Cech.Referee Phil Dowd was not convinced the ball did go over the line, and Chelsea were able to get their hands on the trophy for the fourth time in six years.

It was a deserved victory, although Liverpool did well to make a fight of it after Drogba had put the Blues firmly in command – and became the first man to score in four FA Cup finals.Ramires netted in recent semi-final victories against Barcelona and Tottenham and maintained his knack of scoring in important games when he put Chelsea ahead in the 11th minute.Juan Mata pounced on a mistake by Jay Spearing and threaded the ball through to the Brazilian, who got the better of Jose Enrique and then fired past Pepe Reina at the keeper’s near post.And when Chelsea doubled their lead six minutes into the second half, they looked on course for a comfortable win.

Frank Lampard skipped away from the ineffective Spearing and picked out Drogba, who shot through the legs of Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel and into the far corner.But Liverpool hit back when Carroll replaced Spearing and gave his team hope with a well taken goal on 64 minutes.Jose Bosingwa was closed down on the left flank by Stewart Downing, and when the ball came in to Carroll the striker wrong-footed Blues skipper John Terry before slamming a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.Unsurprisingly, Chelsea then had to withstand a period of pressure as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser.

Cech did well to keep out a low shot from Suarez, before Carroll headed over following a cross from ex-Chelsea man Glen Johnson.Liverpool, who benefited from a goal-line decision when Luis Garcia’s Champions League semi-final winner stood in 2005, will argue that they should also have been awarded a goal after Carroll’s effort.

Chelsea may be able to thank Lady Luck on this occasion, but they can also thank Cech who, it should not be forgotten, did brilliantly to get a hand to the ball.

League Cup Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool

A Steven Gerrard penalty in the first-half was the difference between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium in the Carling Cup clash.Liverpool started off brightly and created the first chance of the game with some fine build up play before Andy Carroll found himself through on go only to be denied by Joe Hart after five minutes.The visitors continued to press and Hart was called into action on two more occasions following efforts from Steven Gerrard and Stewart Downing.However the deadlock was broken when Stefan Savic brought down Daniel Agger in the box, before Gerrard stepped up to slot the ball home from the penalty spot on 13 minutes.City looked out of sorts in the first-half but could and should have possibly equalised just before the break when James Milner fired his shot over the bar after some great work from Micah Richards. The home side looked brighter in the second half and could have equalised after Martin Kelly produced a poor back pass straight to Sergio Aguero but Pepe Reina was there to put the Argentina star off and his effort went over the bar.Just before the hour mark a Samir Nasri corner was well connected by the head of Micah Richards but again Reina was equal to it. City enjoyed more of the possession in the final 20 minutes but could not find a goal of their own and Liverpool held on to take a one goal advantage back to Anfield for the semi-final second leg.

Bellamy Sinks Chelsea

Craig Bellamy steered Liverpool into the Carling Cup semi-finals to heap further pressure on under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. Bellamy's pinpoint delivery set up second-half goals for Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly as the Reds took a step closer to winning their first silverware since 2006. It completed an emotional return for Bellamy, who had been omitted from the squad for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on compassionate grounds following the death of close friend Gary Speed. The 32-year-old Wales winger provided the spark of creativity Liverpool needed to defeat toothless opposition who were prone to erratic defending. The ineffectual Andy Carroll, who started at Stamford Bridge, missed a first-half penalty while Chelsea should have been awarded a clear spot-kick after just two minutes.

Match Report:Liverpool 3 Bolton 1

Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League table after cruising to an easy 3-1 victory against a poor Bolton side at Anfield. Kenny Dalglish opted to start with Andy Carroll on the substitute's bench and it proved to a wise move as his side played some free-flowing football at times that made the Bolton defence look ponderous. With no European disatractions this season, Liverpool could finally be title contenders this term. After dominating the early stages, Liverpool deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute when Jordan Henderson lashed a shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen after the Finnish goalkeeper had initally made a smart save to deny Dirk Kuyt. The lively Luis Suarez and Kuyt went close to doubling the Reds' lead before the interval but two goals in little over a minute early in the second period effectively ended the game as a contest. Substitute Martin Skrtel powered a header home from a 52nd-minute corner before the Bolton defence parted, allowing Kuyt to waltz into a dangerous area. The Dutchman set up Charlie Adam who slid a low shot past the hapless Jaaskelainen. There could have been more goals for Dalglish's side who threatened to run riot immediately after grabbing their third goal but, after the attacks had been repelled, Bolton netted a consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game courtesy of Klasnic.

Gerrard Heading for Liverpool Exit?

Much has been made of Kenny Dalglish’s need to thin out a bloated midfield before the transfer window shuts but one fact of Liverpool’s midfield overhaul has been largely overlooked, whisper it – there is no room for Steven Gerrard. Dalglish’s signing of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing on top of the arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll last winter show that in the new look Liverpool, Gerrard is out of style. As seen from the end of last season Dalglish will set out a 4-4-2 with Suarez buzzing around Carroll and the role of the midfield will be to retain a good shape behind these two meaning that even when fit Gerrard will not be suited to the team. The hero of Istanbul has been a guaranteed starter when fit since the 2001 season but age and tactical changes in recent years have exposed at club level the frailties that have always shown while on international duty. Since the departure of Xabi Alonso and his patient, prudent passing Gerrard has frustrated with a hyperactive, everything and nothing at once style; neither a defensive or attacking force he has roamed aimlessly, misplacing passes and firing long range shots with little return. This will not wash with Dalglish who needs a solid midfield to get the best out of his formation and new signings. Never a particularly disciplined player, Gerrard was accommodated as a maverick in Rafa Benitez’s otherwise strict formation which worked well for Gerrard and Liverpool while he had the right players around him. His inspirational role as an all-action hero under Benitez is now Gerrard’s undoing, as it stands he is a player without a position. For each role in the centre of the park Dalglish recognises that the other midfielders at the club are better than Gerrard. Lucas Leiva was derided as a failure upon his arrival at the club but with over 100 games under his belt in the league he has grown into the custodial ball-winning role in Liverpool’s midfield, a role Gerrard was never comfortable with. Raul Meireles too was seen as a flop within a few games last season but the Portuguese player adapted so well that he was named the PFA’s Fan’s Player of the Year and even though he was often deployed in an unfamiliar wide position he shone as an attacking threat. The signings of Adam and Henderson mean that Meireles will likely have to make do with fewer starts this season but it also puts Gerrard to the back of the queue of potential attacking options. Having long lacked any width Stewart Downing will be a breathe of fresh air for the Anfield faithful if he can rise to the occasion, in any case he has a simple task of supplying Carroll with crosses, on the right-side Daglish will likely opt for Dirk Kuyt or Maxi Rodriguez. Meireles may too be an option out wide though he failed to impress in that position under Roy Hodgson but hey, didn’t they all. Kuyt who, often has been held up as a figure of ridicule, is unsurpassed in his tenacity and eagerness in both defensive and attacking play which may make him indispensable for Dalglish as he attempts to get the best out of his attacking central mids Adam, Meireles and Henderson. Rodriguez grabbed headlines at the end of the season with a brace of hat tricks but other than that he had a quiet season and though not past it just yet he is unlikely to be relied upon. With more than a dozen midfielders current on the books Dalglish will be working frantically to move on Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen and Alberto Aquilani before the transfer window closes while Johnjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing are likely to go out on loan. But when Sunderland arrive at Anfield in two weeks time there may be another more familiar face who finds that he too has no place in the second Dalglish era.

Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0

Liverpool are up to fifth in the Premier League table after recording a comfortable victory over Newcastle.
The Reds dominated the early exchanges and took a 10th-minute lead through Maxi Rodriguez's deflected volley.
United competed until the 59th minute when Mike Williamson fouled Luis Suarez for a penalty that Dirk Kuyt converted.
Suarez's neat close-range finish sealed the win for the hosts, for whom former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll came off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
Inevitably, the build-up to the game was dominated by talk of Carroll, who the Reds recycled £35m of the £50m fee they received from Chelsea for Fernando Torres on, when they purchased him from Newcastle late in the January transfer window.
Having spent the last few weeks sidelined with a knee injury, the big number nine was an ominous presence for his former side on the Liverpool bench and sparked an entertaining vocal war of attrition between opposing fans every time he appeared on the touchline for a warm-up and during his late cameo.
Newcastle, though, had enough to worry about prior to that, having to cope with a Liverpool attack that has given the Reds a very realistic chance of qualification for the Europa League following a run that has seen them take 30 points from their last 14 games.
Suarez again demonstrated the predatory instincts and creativity that persuaded the Reds to part with £22.7m to sign him from Ajax in January, while Dirk Kuyt extended the richest goalscoring form of his Liverpool career by scoring in his fourth successive game.
In Liverpool's previous game, eight days ago, winger Rodriguez scored three of his side's five goals in a hammering of struggling Birmingham and it was the Argentine winger who again gave his side the lead on Sunday.
The home side had already threatened through Raul Meireles's miscued sixth-minute shot before going ahead in the 10th.
Teenage full-back John Flanagan provided a testing cross from the right which Mike Williamson only partially headed clear, allowing Rodriguez to volley a shot from 12 yards that took a crucial deflection off Danny Simpson past keeper Tim Krul.
It was the high-point of a 25-minute opening period in which Liverpool dominated possession but created few real goalscoring chances.
Impressive teenage midfielder Jay Spearing was involved in their two other best attacking moves of the half, firstly forcing keeper Krul into a low save with a 25-yard shot and then later provided a superb pin-point cross from the right which Lucas headed straight at the United keeper from 10 yards out.
As the half wore on the visitors grew as a presence, but barring some well-delivered Joey Barton free-kicks, they only had Kevin Nolan's miscued effort from a corner to show for their efforts.
However, they did fashion the first opportunity of the second half when Nolan crossed for Barton, but his shot flew past the post and with it went their best chance of forging a first away win since February.
Instead, Liverpool reasserted their authority and extended their lead just before the hour.
Williamson misjudged an attempt to shepherd the ball out at the byline, allowing Suarez to nip and knock it past him. Realising the threat the Uruguayan now posed, the defender dragged him down for a penalty that Kuyt stroked home for his eighth goal in seven games.
The Dutchman should have added another minutes later when Meireles's cross found him unmarked six yards out, but he failed to connect properly with his header and put it wide.
However, he did play a pivotal role in his side's third goal, flicking a superb short pass through a crowd of defenders to find Suarez, who neatly finished from eight yards out.
To rub salt into Newcastle wounds, Liverpool used the final 20 minutes to parade Carroll.
The 11 goals he scored for his former side earlier in the season have played a major part in securing them a second successive season in the Premier League and he may well yet play a significant role in helping his new side into Europe next campaign.

Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City

Andy Carroll's first goals since his £35m move to Liverpool put a dent in Manchester City's Champions League hopes as they were emphatically swept aside at Anfield.Carroll struck twice - the first a spectacular long-range strike - as Liverpool established a deserved three-goal lead by the interval and kept their own European ambitions alive with a vibrant display.Dirk Kuyt sandwiched a goal in between Carroll's double as City endured a night of total misery, with captain Carlos Tevez limping off early on with a hamstring strain that puts a serious question mark over his participation in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley.Mario Balotelli replaced Tevez but his contribution was so negligible that he suffered the indignity of being substituted himself as time ran out, a development that encapsulated a wretched 90 minutes for City and boss Roberto Mancini.

Carroll has been edging slowly towards full fitness after his expensive arrival from Newcastle United and his partnership with £23m Luis Suarez showed rich promise as Liverpool controlled affairs from start to finish.
Mancini's side remain in fourth place but an opportunity to press home an advantage over closest rivals Tottenham was squandered with a lamentable display.Liverpool's performance - despite a defensive injury crisis that saw a promising debut for teenage academy graduate John Flanagan - was a resounding advert for Kenny Dalglish to be given the manager's job on a permanent basis.

And The Kop made their feelings clear on the matter throughout as they sang their support for the Anfield icon, who they want to take Liverpool on to the next stage of their recovery from the ill-fated Roy Hodgson era.City, in contrast, were listless and portrayed all the signs of a side with their sights on the meeting with archrivals United at Wembley - mystifying giving the stakes still on offer in the Premier League.The difference between the sides was illustrated by the threat posed by the opposing strike partnerships. Carroll and Suarez were danger personified while Edin Dzeko and Balotelli never laid a glove on Liverpool's defence.Mancini must now marshall his forces before Saturday, with the bitterest blow of all from a night of despair being the injury to talisman Tevez, the inspiration behind much of their progress this season.
City kept David Silva and Nigel de Jong on the bench ahead of Saturday's Wembley date - and the pair may well have been relieved to have kept their distance from the wreckage of that first-half display.
Liverpool were seriously weakened by injuries, with captain Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger out for the season and Glen Johnson also missing, but it did not stop them running riot against laboured City.
The dangerous Suarez delivered an early sign of the carnage to come when he outstripped City's defence but keeper Joe Hart got a faint and vital touch to turn his shot on to the post.
City were barely hanging on as Liverpool's pace and movement proved too much and the breakthrough came in spectacular fashion after 13 minutes. Carroll was lurking 25 yards out and when Vincent Kompany deflected the ball into his path he thrashed a low left-foot finish past the startled Hart.
And moments later matters took a desperate turn for the worse for City when Tevez pulled away from a challenge with Carroll, the Argentine clutching his hamstring, removing his captain's armband instantly before disappearing disconsolately down the tunnel.
The enigmatic Balotelli entered the fray but he was little more than a bystander as Liverpool emphasised their superiority by adding two more goals inside a minute as City collapsed. Kuyt scored the second 11 minutes before the interval with a perfect side-foot finish past Hart, then Carroll rose with Aleksdander Kolarov to glance in Raul Meireles' angled delivery.The second half was little more than a procession as Liverpool closed out victory, although City's black mood was reflected in the unhappy reaction of James Milner when he was substituted for Silva.Liverpool were the side looking more likely to add another goal and Hart needed to be alert to plunge low to save from Meireles as he drove in a low shot from 12 yards.Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina was effectively unemployed until the 82nd minute when he punched away a powerful drive from Yaya Toure.
Balotelli's lifeless effort, although in his defence he was hardly alone and certainly no worse than the bitterly disappointing Dzeko, came to a conclusion when he was replaced by Nigel de Jong.
The pattern had long since been set though and Carroll only just missed out on a hat-trick when his header dropped on to the top of the net with Hart scrambling.